William B. Murphy

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch April 24, 1950

Age 52

Tour of Duty 27 yrs 6 mo

Badge 867

The Vigil Panel 86 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 570

Incident

Patrolman William Murphy was shot to death as he entered a store on his way home from completing the midnight shift at the Stanton Avenue District. He often stopped to visit a friend who worked as a clerk at 455 West 59th Street. The clerk was watching for the policeman when four armed bandits entered the store and locked him in the back room. After robbing other customers and the clerk, they rifled through the cash register near the rear of the store. One of the men subjects noticed a second cash register at the front of the store and ordered the clerk from the back to open it. As Patrolman Murphy approached, he suspected something was not right and called through the open door, "Is everything all right in there?" The clerk attempted to prevent Patrolman Murphy from walking into a trap and told him everything was fine. Patrolman Murphy entered, muttering, "Everything is not okay." Once inside, all four suspects opened fire. As Patrolman Murphy fell, he fired one shot. Patrolman Murphy was dead on arrival at Englewood Hospital, suffering from four wounds in the head and chest. Physicians found that his right arm was fractured and his face bruised. This was consistent with reports that the bandits kicked the fallen officer before fleeing. Two of the suspects were captured a short time later at Bridewell Hospital. Both needed medical attention for a gunshot wound. It was discovered that Patrolman Murphy's single shot had hit the one suspect, and then that suspect accidentally shot the other. The suspect that Patrolman Murphy shot was later found dead in his hospital bed. He had ripped open his wound and bled to death. The other two suspects were eventually apprehended. All three suspects were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. Two were executed in the electric chair, one on October 17th, 1952, the other on March 19th, 1953. Patrolman Murphy was a United States Navy veteran and had served with the Chicago Police Department for over 27 years. He wa

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Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Murphy gave the Chicago Police Department 27 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Chicago Police Department

Location Chicago, IL

Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 24, 1950

Tour of Duty 27 yrs 6 mo

Age 52

Badge Number 867

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender One committed suicide; two executed

Military Service

William B. Murphy served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman William B. Murphy is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 9.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Chicago Police Department, 396 of 571 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.4% of this agency's fallen.

Chicago Police Department

396

of 571 officers

69.4% Felonious

IL — Statewide

842

of 1,318 officers

63.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious